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Home , Alison McGovern, Andrew Gwynne, Andrew Murrison, Angela Eagle, Anna McMorrin, Barbara Keeley

Elections for the Chairs of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Committee and the Committee on Standards Candidates

6 May 2020

Contents

Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Committee

Stella Creasy 5

Angela Eagle 6

Darren Jones 7

Committee on Standards

Chris Bryant 9

Yvonne Fovargue 10

Introduction

This booklet lists all the candidates for the elections for the Chairs of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee and the Committee on Standards on Wednesday 6 May 2020. The election is governed by the temporary Order agreed by the House on 22 April 2020. The Order of the House of 16 January 2020 allocated the Chairs of these Committees to the Labour Party. The candidates are listed in alphabetical order. All candidates are required to submit a statement indicating willingness to stand for election and declare any relevant interests. Each candidate’s entry in the booklet prints any further personal statement that has been submitted by that candidate. Candidates are required to provide 15 signatures from their own party. Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Committee

4 Election of the Chair of the BEIS Committee

Nominated by (own party) Nominated by (other parties) (optional) , , Ian Murray, Jim McMahon, , Richard Fuller, , Karl Turner, , Chris Stephens, , , Chris Evans, Siobhain McDonagh, , , Nadia Whittome, , Alex Davies-Jones

Statement

I’m asking for your support to become the next Chair constituents – and our representatives- need. My of the BEIS Select Committee to be able to ensure the track record as a parliamentarian is one of results- and concerns of British businesses are heard clearly and working across the House to achieve them. Whether immediately as Parliament addresses the Coronavirus leading the fight against legal loan sharks, tax avoidance crisis. or for the rights of women in Northern , it has been through collaboration across the benches that Whether Directors of their own Limited Companies, change has been achieved. owners of businesses which are not eligible for rate relief, those on zero hour contracts whose employers Each of us is taking calls on a daily basis from those refuse to furlough them or those who have applied for at the sharp end of these challenges; Never more has loans through the CBILs scheme that have yet to be our nation needed us to work together to ensure these processed, our constituents need our help. And they schemes deliver for them. In recent years the BEIS need our help now –decisions on whether to continue or select committee has proved itself a powerful advocate to go into insolvency are being made in the coming days for just that, helping to highlight the lessons from the and weeks, not months. collapse of Carillion and provide a voice for the workers of Thomas Cook. As this crisis continues, it is even The BEIS Select Committee has a vital role to play more imperative the Committee effectively scrutinises – offering a unique and unparalleled forum into the Government and feeds back on these key areas. which the needs of our residents, local businesses When it subsides, we need to concentrate on areas and communities can be given voice loud and clear including emissions targets and energy security, the as part of scrutinising Government policy. Where challenge of red tape, procurement and our work life boardrooms who are choosing to furlough staff but balance. avoid tough questions on executive pay can be held to account. Where banks struggling to pass on the help Together we can ensure the BEIS Select Committee is desperately needed by small businesses can explain how a powerful force in real time for effective policy making to accelerate help. Where new models for the world of and parliamentary scrutiny; showing our constituents work don’t fit can be clarified so that support can be how their concerns are being heard and acted upon and arranged. impacting the support they need. I ask for your support to be able to lead the above and ensure we have a BEIS As a former Shadow Business Minister and participant Select Committee which is back in business to back in several Select Committees, as well as with a British business. background in the not for profit sector, I have the experience and the independence to ensure the Committee can be the constructive forum our

Relevant Interests

Please see Register of Members’ Financial Interests.

5 Election of the Chair of the BEIS Committee Ms Wallasey

Nominated by (own party) Nominated by (other parties) (optional) , Kevin Brennan, Ms , , Angus Brendan MacNeil, Neil Gray, , Julie Elliott, , , Sir Charles Walker, , , Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger Sir , Dame Diana Johnson, Christian Matheson, Alison McGovern, , Daniel Zeichner

Statement

The country is facing the unprecedented challenge Committee, the Treasury Select Committee and the of a global health pandemic which has engendered a Public Accounts Committee. Four years on the House of worldwide economic crisis, the scale of which has not Commons Commission showed I can work successfully been witnessed since the 1930s. in an arena requiring consensus. Now is not the time for grandstanding or party political point scoring, and I will Creative and innovative solutions from Government not do either if elected. will be required to rescue rebuild and renew our economy. Rigorous select committee scrutiny can After rescue for our economy, it is important that improve decision making and therefore the outcome for opportunities are not missed in the renewal phase to all our constituents as this crisis unfolds. Government implement a green transformation to ensure that our works better and is kept on its toes by a strong, well economy emerges fit for the zero-carbon challenge functioning Parliament unafraid to call it to account, which comes next. Infrastructure investment will be virtually or otherwise. As we are seeing with the crucial here. Government’s coronavirus support packages, there If I was elected Chair, I would ensure that the is all too often a gap between the policy intent of an committee continues to take account of the concerns of announcement and the practicalities of administering the Nations and Regions, which are often overlooked in those policies successfully. It is in revealing those gaps a very centralised Whitehall system, yet are potential and engaging with stakeholders and the Government powerhouses of economic growth and development. that Select Committees add value. I would wish to see a special focus on our small and I am standing for Chair of the BEIS Select Committee medium-sized enterprises, which are currently in because I have the experience of complex economic peril, yet which provide the lion’s share of employment policy areas both in Government and Opposition to opportunities. I would also like to explore the notion match the seriousness of the challenging times we face. of a reinvigorated start-up regime to help new business This has given me a good feel for how Government germinate and grow following the pandemic. works and what it can and can’t do as we look beyond the pandemic and into the next stages of recovery. I would ensure that the BEIS Select Committee would produce regular reports to all Members on the work I know from long Parliamentary experience the of the Committee – like those produced by the Public necessity of working across party lines to reach the Accounts Committee. consensus vital to increase the influence of Select Committee reports. This includes reflecting the views of I believe I have the experience to make sure that the smaller parties too. I have served on four different Select BEIS Select Committee maintains its crucial role and Committees, including on the Employment Select would be honoured to be chosen to lead it.

Relevant Interests

Please see Register of Members’ Financial Interests.

6 Election of the Chair of the BEIS Committee Darren Jones North West

Nominated by (own party) Nominated by (other parties) (optional) Anna McMorrin, , , Emma Hardy, , Dr , Holly Lynch, , , Mr David Jones, Carol Monaghan, Kerry McCarthy, Pat McFadden, Wera Hobhouse , , , Mr Stephen Morgan, , Mr

Statement

The BEIS committee will play a crucial role in tackling two It isn’t for the chair to dictate what work a future committee of the most significant challenges facing our country: our should and shouldn’t work on. It is right and proper that the economic recovery and tackling climate change. select committee decides its priorities as a whole committee. That’s why being a team player and helping lead an My real-world business and legal experience, my expertise empowered team of equals is so important to this role. in energy policy and my track record of select committee leadership evidences my ability to fulfil this important role. All members know why the work undertaken by the BEIS committee is so important. Each of you will understand the More importantly, perhaps, is my consistent track record of challenges we’re facing as a country, and the enormous task working on these issues collaboratively across the House in ahead of us for workers, businesses, the British economy and – the best interests of the country. Now is not the time for tribal especially in respect of climate change – the world. politics or point scoring. From post-pandemic growth, supporting workers, That’s why I’m so pleased to be endorsed by colleagues understanding the impact of the pandemic on SMEs and our from across the whole political spectrum of the House of supply chains to making the best of Britain’s leadership of Commons. From Sir MP, David Jones MP and Dr COP, of British R&D and innovation and helping set out the Liam Fox MP to Greg Clark MP, MP and best approaches to a new post-pandemic, post- industrial Stephen Metcalfe MP; from Kate Green MP, Kerry McCarthy strategy that lifts the entire country, it’s clear there’s a great MP and Ben Bradshaw MP to Wera Hobhouse MP, Sir deal of work for the committee to do. Norman Lamb and Carol Monaghan MP. I couldn’t be more excited at the prospect of chairing the And it’s why I was so pleased to be nominated by my party BEIS committee and working with current and new members colleagues from across intakes and groupings with nearly 75% in the task ahead. I hope my experience, my endorsements, of my nominations coming from the Women’s Parliamentary my nominations and my pitch to colleagues persuades many Labour Party. of you to vote for me. If I’m fortunate enough to win, I look The endorsement of previous Secretaries of State and forward to working with all of you in the future. Ministers from governments of all colours, and from current and former committee chairs, I hope is a testament to my pitch to colleagues.

Relevant Interests

I maintain my practising certificate as a solicitor by way of a consultancy I am the chairman of the Institute of AI – a global not-for-profit network of agreement with the law firm Kemp Little LLP, via my service company legislators interested in the regulation of artificial intelligence. This is an the Office of Darren Jones Limited. However, no legal advice is currently unpaid role. being given and there are no active clients which would require further My wife, Lucy Symons-Jones, is the Director of External Affairs at the declaration. Association of Decentralised Energy, which represents a number of energy- I am the chair of Labour Digital, a unincorporated membership association related businesses. engaged in policy discussions related to technology and digital policy I am the co-chair of the Parliamentary Internet, Communications and issues within the Labour Party, which has been in receipt of grant funding Technology APP G (PICTFor) and the co-chair of the Parliamentary Group for from the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust Limited, Jason Stockwood (of Renewable and Sustainable Energy APPG (PRASEG). Simply Business) and Zebra Technologies Europe Limited. The majority of these funds have been used to employ a paid intern for Labour Digital, employed directly by the Labour Party.

7 Election of the Chair of the BEIS Committee Committee on Standards

8 Election of the Chair of the Committee on Standards Chris Bryant

Nominated by (own party) Nominated by (other parties) (optional) Kate Green, Christian Matheson, Alex Sobel, Stella Creasy, , , Dame Diana Johnson, Mel Stride, , Sir George Howarth, , , , Alison McGovern, Jess Phillips, Kevin Brennan, Ms , , Kerry McCarthy

Statement

Kate Green, retiring Chair of the Standards Committee, • As a member of the SCIPSA Committee (which ‘I have nominated Chris because he is a passionate normally accompanies the role) I regularly advocate for parliament and will robustly defend its and repeatedly raised issues on behalf of MPs Standards system.’ individually and collectively. Geoffrey Clifton Brown, and Neil Gray, ‘We • I have always been scrupulously fair in my dealings served on the Finance Committee with Chris and we with colleagues, regardless of party affiliation, know he is a thoroughly impartial Chair who puts party working with others on issues as diverse as acquired politics to one side to get the business done.’ brain injury, skin cancer and British relations with Russia. Jeremy Hunt, ‘No one has demonstrated greater independence and willingness to go against the flow as • I have been through a media maelstrom and I know an MP than Chris...and this is a role that needs those how important it is for the House – and especially qualities perhaps more than any other.’ the House’s Standards Committee – to act on the basis of evidence and hard facts rather than gossip It would be wrong to have a manifesto for the post, as and surmise. the whole point of the Committee is that the MPs and lay members act as an independent adjudicator on The MPs on the Standards Committee also constitute complaints about Members brought to the Privileges Committee, which adjudicates on Commissioner on Standards. Its hallmark must be questions such as the arrest of a Member on the scrupulous fairness. This is especially true following the parliamentary estate and the attendance or non- work on bullying and harassment done by Dame Laura attendance of witnesses before select committees – a Cox and Gemma White QC. subject I have studied and written about in considerable depth. However, I believe I have the skills necessary to do a good job on behalf of the House. In addition to those who have formally nominated me, I have the support of: Alberto Costa, Alex Davies- • I know the rules inside out, having served as Jones, Alex Norris, Andrew Gwynne, , Deputy Leader and Shadow Leader of the House, Dr , , Clive Betts, having been an MP since 2001 and having written Damian Collins, Damien Moore, David Davis, David a two-volume history of Parliament. As I said when Lammy, Sir , Sir , Edward I stood for Speaker, I have a copy of Erskine May by Timpson, Emma Hardy, Feryal Clark, Geoffrey Clifton my bedside. Brown, James Gray, John McDonnell, Kerry McCarthy, • I was an efficient and impartial chair of the House’s Martin Vickers, , , Neil Finance Committee from 2017 to 2019. Gray, , Nick Thomas Symonds, Dr Philippa Whitford, Preet Kaur Gill, , , , Stewart Malcolm MacDonald, , , .

Relevant Interests

Please see Register of Members’ Financial Interests. 9 Election of the Chair of the Committee on Standards Makerfield

Nominated by (own party) Nominated by (other parties) (optional) Julie Elliott, Judith Cummins, , Mrs Emma Llewell-Buck, Mr , Tracey Crouch, , , Mr Kevan Jim Shannon, Mark Fletcher, Jones, Sarah Champion, , Andy Carter Mike Amesbury, , Ms , Naz Shah, Meg Hillier, Siobhain McDonagh

Statement

Following Kate Green’s promotion to the frontbench The public, rightly, expect the highest standards of after ably leading the Standards Committee since 2018. I conduct from elected representatives. The Committee’s am standing for election as Chair. communications strategy should assist being as transparent as possible while at the same time not There are no current Labour members remaining on the courting publicity for its own sake. Ultimately, the aim committee but I feel that my experience over the last should be to give the public the confidence that the 10 years as an MP and, prior to that, as a local Citizens system of self-regulation works fairly and well. Advice Chief Executive and as a councillor, sitting on the Appeals Committee, would assist me in steering this I would wish to continue with the review of sanctions, sensitive and complex area. linking it to the current rules and ensuring fairness and clarity around both so that elected members and I have wide experience of working cross party, chairing the public are clear that the rules are well articulated the APPG on Debt & Personal Finance and leading an to members and I would hope to discuss that further, enquiry into Rent to Own companies which led to a full particularly with the cohort of new members elected in review and significant rule changes by the FCA. 2019. Unlike other committees the Standards Committee The reputation of Parliament and Parliamentarians involves lay members and the Parliamentary is key to trust in democracy. In these difficult times Commissioner for Standards and I welcome this I would defend and strengthen our system of self- opportunity to involve non-Members. It is important regulation assuring both the public and elected that every stakeholder group feels able to be heard and members that the duties of a Member of Parliament are have their expectations clarified and met. I believe that carried out to the highest possible standard. my long experience of working with volunteers, paid staff and lay management committee members would be invaluable. It is vital that Members of Parliament have confidence in the ability of the committee to engage with a high level of respect, sensitivity and fairness while at the same time always being mindful of the public interest and expectations.

Relevant Interests

Please see Register of Members’ Financial Interests.

10 Election of the Chair of the Committee on Standards